LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Though we were on deadline for this issue of Letters on the Saturday following the 4th of July, it was a beautiful day and there were several events on the calendar that we wanted to attend. Around 5 p.m. Murray and I closed up the office, grabbed the camera, and strolled off down Baltimore Avenue. All over town spirits were high and the streets were filled with lively families in all shapes and sizes, young and old, gay and straight. "This is it," I suddenly thought, "this is summerthis is why we are all here." Don't get me wrong, I love the wintertime (and spring and fall) in Rehoboth as wellfor different reasonsbut now (and for the next few weeks) is the real magic time in our little town.
Every season, of course, comes with changes, and between the booming Rehoboth real estate market, and the ongoing streetscape project, visitors who haven't been here in a couple of years might at first find themselves driving in circles. But most of the changes are not so quickly obvious, and require a little exploration. On that stroll I mentioned a moment ago, we first passed the Shannon Gallery in the old Our Place location and the newly opened Aqua where Scalawags used to be, then dropped in on the opening of the Metro Gallery behind SOB's Deli, and then took a tour of the new One Spirit Massage Studio next door. Finally we ended up at the beautiful new Chinese Restaurant Confucius on Wilmington Avenue, where they treated us like royalty and fed us so well we decided to forego any further adventures and go home and take a nap. Ah, the joys of summer in Rehoboth. On a more serious note, as the summer heats up so does the political climate in this country in anticipation of this fall's very important presidential election. Not that all presidential elections aren't important, but with the country so politically divided and the world in a state of anxiety it seems an especially important time to get involved. As Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth and Editor of this magazine, I try to be objective and I seek to create an environment that encourages discussion. As Steve Elkins I am a lifelong Democrat and I have strong feelings about this election. Obviously there is a certain dichotomy with what I do and who I am, and yet it is that very dichotomy that helps me in my observations of the world around us. Like many, I was fascinated by Michael Moore's controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. The Democrat in me wanted to cheer and shout, the editor in me wanted to sit back and speculate on the state of objectivity and the difference between documentary and propaganda. In both the press and in government the lines of truth sometimes seem to grow more and more blurry every day, and that makes it easy to see how so many people can feel disconnected from the whole process. This election is important to us as gay people; it is even more important to us as human beings. Get involved. The world needs your passionand your vote. Last week, CAMP Rehoboth volunteers (in record time, I might add) stuffed, folded and mailed the letters and forms for our 17th annual Sundance Benefit on Labor Day weekend. Sundance, for those of you new to the area, is our biggest event of the yearand one of the most successful fundraisers in the state. Sundance Sponsors, Supporters, and Hosts make the whole event possible and help us to raise a huge amount to money for the Sussex County AIDS Council and CAMP Rehoboth. To sign up to be a part of this extraordinary event, call the CAMP Rehoboth office or visit the Sundance Web site at sundancebenefit.com. Long before Sundance, however, the CAMP Rehoboth follies will fill the Rehoboth Convention Center with outrageous antics, much laughter, and a few surprise performances as well (guess who?). For more information on the Follies, see page 103and make your reservation now as it always sells out fast. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 14, No. 9 July 16, 2004 |